A LORRY driver has made a miraculous recovery after his truck plunged 40ft into a ravine, leaving him fighting for life.

Jon Barlow, 27, was paralysed from the neck down after the horrific accident on the A5 at Padog Bends, near Betws-y-Coed last April.

He spent several weeks in a drug- induced coma while his family kept a bedside vigil.

But after months of recuperation, the trucker is back on his feet after slowly regaining the use of his body and learning to walk again.

He said: "I’m very thankful. I count my blessings every single day. It’s but for the grace of God that I’ve managed to get past it.

"If I’ve got to use a stick for the rest of my life, then at least I’ve got a rest of my life to use a stick."

Mr Barlow, from Bolton, hopes he would work again — and has no fear of taking up his old job as a driver.

He said: "I think it helps that I don’t actually remember the accident. If I could remember it, I might never want to set foot in another vehicle again."

Mum Janette, 52, described his recovery as a miracle: "It was a shocking time for me after the accident.

"Jon is very lucky that he’s made such a good recovery. He still has to walk with a stick, and still has some short-term memory loss, but he’s so lucky to be alive.

"It’s all thanks to the people that attended to him – the police, fire service, hospital and air ambulance."

Now the Barlows are organising a charity night in aid of North Wales Air Ambulance crews who played a vital part in saving his life.

Mrs Barlow hopes the charity night will raise up to £2,500 for North Wales Air Ambulance.

"What we’re doing is a thank you for what they did," she said.

Mr Barlow was transporting timber from Manchester to Wales when the accident happened on a notoriously dangerous winding stretch of the A5.

A witness in the car behind said Mr Barlow had been driving slowly and carefully when his front nearside wheel clipped a low wall.

The truck smashed through the wall, tumbled down an embankment, rolled over several times before coming to rest against a tree.

Two passing builders used ladders to reach him and kept him conscious until the air ambulance arrived.

Mr Barlow suffered brain injuries, causing paralysis and short-term memory loss. One of the last things he remembers is eating a bacon sandwich before setting off, but after that his memory is a void for two- and-a-half weeks.

The charity night is in Bolton on May 14, tickets £7. Call Mrs Barlow on 07789 220795 to make a donation.